EP2769660B1 - Broom with automatic tilting head for cleaning a surface - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a hygienic and easy-to-use tilting mop for cleaning surfaces.

Such a broom, equipped for example with a washing head or dedusting, makes it possible to clean the floors in a convenient manner by limiting the user's contacts with the cleaning head.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

In order to more conveniently clean the floors, it has been known for some years articulated brushes equipped with a cleaning head comprising for example a sponge or mopping pad.

Traditionally, these brushes can be dewatered using a spin device provided in the bucket containing the cleaning liquid. However, in other models, the broom itself is equipped with a spin device attached and operable along the handle of the broom. In such a case, the cleaning head must be straightened along the handle before the spin device can be used.

To do this, it is usually necessary to manually straighten the head and lock it in this longitudinal position with a clip or other locking device. However, this procedure brings the user into contact with the cleaning head which is generally dirty and wet, which does not comply with the hygiene objectives expected for such a broom.

In other cases, the cleaning head may be provided with a user-actuable drive device for straightening the head against the handle: for example, in the patent FR 2 944 198 , the cleaning head comprises two flaps foldable against the handle with rods or cables connected to an actuator. However, such a cleaning device is relatively complex and expensive to produce. In addition, it requires the user some effort to straighten and then wring the cleaning head.

Finally, the patent DE 196 45 927 A1 discloses a broom according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a broom has in its head an unbalance to return the head to its folded position when the handle is held substantially vertically away from the surface to be cleaned.

There is therefore a real need for a tilting head broom that is hygienic and easy to use and that is devoid, at least in part, of the disadvantages inherent in the aforementioned known brushes.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a tilting broom for surface cleaning, comprising a handle, a cleaning head mounted at the lower end of the handle via a hinge, said hinge being configured to allow the tilting of the head around a tilting axis between a transverse working position, in which the head is able to be applied against a surface to be cleaned, and an axial position of folding, in which at least a portion of the head is straightened against the handle ; the cleaning head has an unbalance configured to return the head to its folded position when the handle is held substantially vertically away from the surface to be cleaned; the head is equipped with a holding member configured to cooperate automatically with the handle of the blade when the head is brought into its folded position so as to maintain said folding position against the action of gravity, including included when the handle is tilted.

Thus, thanks to this unbalance, when the cleaning head is raised above the ground, or above a bucket containing a detergent, that is to say when the reaction force of a support no longer opposes gravity, the heaviest part of the cleaning head tilts naturally downwards to point to the ground while the lighter part, opposite the heavier part compared to the articulation, is upright upward, so that the cleaning head aligns with a vertical plane. Thus, when the handle of the blade is held substantially vertically, the cleaning head is aligned substantially longitudinally with the handle of the blade: the cleaning head is then in its folded position in which the light portion of the head of cleaning is straightened against the handle.

Once this position is reached, the cooperation between the holding member and the handle of the blade automatically activates to block the cleaning head in its folded position: the cooperation force is then such that the cleaning head remains aligned with the blade. long handle even when the broom is tilted for storage or spinning for example.

Thus, thanks to the combined action of the unbalance and the holding member, the cleaning head is recalled and locked in its position of folded automatically, that is to say without any human intervention, as soon as the broom is no longer supported against a support surface such as the surface to be cleaned or the bottom of a bucket. Thus, the folding operation is very easy and requires no effort for the user: it is enough to lift the broom substantially vertically above the ground. In addition, the folded position being maintained by the holding device, it is possible to freely manipulate the broom once folded: the head, stabilized, is thus easier to clean or to wring; this broom can also be stored easily and compactly in a closet or against the wall of a technical room without the head of the broom can tilt.

In addition, thanks to the automatic folding and blocking of the cleaning head, the user is never in contact with the latter and therefore with the dirty and / or wet part of the broom: comfort of use and especially the hygiene of this broom are thus improved.

In some embodiments, the cleaning head comprises a flyweight provided at a distance from the joint, this flyweight being able to achieve the imbalance of the head. Such a weight is inexpensive and easy to set up. In addition, it is easy to adjust the tilting speed of the head and the total mass of the broom by adjusting the weight of the weight.

In some embodiments, said flyweight is a metal block enclosed in the cleaning head. This configuration makes it possible to hide the weight in the head which offers an aesthetic finish to the broom.

In some embodiments, said flyweight is disposed near one end of the cleaning head. This gives a greater leverage effect that allows a faster tilting of the head.

In some embodiments, the cleaning head is off-center with respect to a median line of said head, this decentering being able to achieve the unbalance of the head. Thus, one of the two parts of the cleaning head, disposed on either side of the joint, is heavier than the other, causing its tilting around the joint. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to artificially increase the broom, which offers increased comfort of use.

In some embodiments, the holding member is configured to release the cleaning head when the opposite end of the head is supported transversely against the surface to be cleaned. Thus, simply pressing the end of the head against the ground when the handle forms at least a small angle with the vertical direction generates a leverage capable of breaking the cooperation between the holding member and the handle of the blade. Therefore, any contact of the user with the cleaning head is also avoided when moving from the folded position to the working position, which further improves the ease of use and hygiene of the brush.

In some embodiments, said holding member cooperates with the handle by a magnetic interaction. Such magnetic cooperation is easy to set up, inexpensive, and can be adjusted to adjust the threshold force from which the magnetic cooperation can be broken so as to ensure a compromise between the stability of the fallback position and the ease of unlocking by the leverage mentioned above. In addition, such an interaction acts as soon as the cleaning head approaches a certain distance from the handle: it can thus facilitate the end of the straightening of the cleaning head and, in particular, bring the cleaning head into its retracted position. against the handle even when it is not held perfectly vertically.

In other embodiments, said holding member cooperates with the handle with the aid of a mechanical device. It can for example cooperate with the sleeve via a clip provided on the handle or on the cleaning head.

In other embodiments, said holding member cooperates with the sleeve using a self-gripping.

In some embodiments, said holding member is a magnet provided on the surface of the dorsal face of the cleaning head and cooperating with a metal surface of the handle.

In some embodiments, the handle is entirely metallic.

In other embodiments, the handle has at least one metal section.

In other embodiments, the handle comprises an attached metal plate, the latter being arranged to face the magnet of the cleaning head when the latter is in its folded position.

In some embodiments, the handle includes a transverse metal rod having a flat end face projecting from the surface of the handle. Such a configuration provides, on the one hand, a good anchoring of the metal surface in the thickness of the handle and, secondly, a solid magnetic cooperation acting deep in the metal rod.

In other embodiments, the holding member is a metal surface provided on the dorsal face of the head cooperating with a magnet provided on the handle of the blade.

In some embodiments, the wiper further includes a wiper module attached to the handle above the cleaning head and configured to dewater the cleaning head when the cleaning head is in its retracted position. The integration of the spin module with the broom allows to benefit from an "all-in-one" broom used with any type of bucket.

In some embodiments, said dewatering module comprises a wringing element mounted on a frame connected to an actuator, said actuator being configured to slide axially along the handle so as to be able to move the dewatering element. back and forth along the handle by action of a user on said sliding actuator. Once the cleaning head folded and locked in its folded position, the user can easily spin the head using this sliding actuator. Here again, the user can perform this operation without coming into contact with the cleaning head.

In some embodiments, said wiper element is a roller.

In other embodiments, said wiper element is a squeegee.

In some embodiments, said dewatering module further includes a reaction member mounted on the frame in opposition to the dewatering member. When using the spin module, the cleaning head is inserted and pinched between the element and the reaction element to ensure the quality of the spinning along the entire cleaning head, including at its lower end beyond the end of the brush handle.

In some embodiments, the wiper further includes an impregnable liner capable of retaining a liquid, which liner is removably attached to the ventral side of the cleaning head. Such a removable liner can be disassembled to be dried, washed, or even discarded and replaced with a new liner. This ensures the durability of the broom even when the liner is worn.

In other embodiments, the blade further includes a dust pad. Such a liner may in particular comprise antistatic properties and be impregnated with a cleaning additive such as a wax.

The above-mentioned characteristics and advantages, as well as others, will appear on reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the proposed device. This detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are schematic and are intended primarily to illustrate the principles of the invention.

In these drawings, from one figure (FIG) to the other, identical elements (or element parts) are identified by the same reference signs. In addition, elements (or parts of elements) belonging to different exemplary embodiments but having an analogous function are indicated in the figures by incremented numerical references of 100, 200, etc.

The FIG 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a broom according to the present disclosure.

The FIG 2 is an exploded view of the broom of the FIG 1 .

The FIG 3A is a back view of the broom of the FIG 1 in its fallback position.

The FIG 3B is a view from above and in half-section along plane A of the FIG 3 .

The FIG 4A-F are views illustrating the kinematics of the head of the broom of the FIG 1 during its use. The views 4A-D and 4F are in section along the plane BB of the FIG 3 ; the view 4E is in section along the plane CC of the FIG 3 .

The FIG 5 is a view of the head of a second example of a broom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In order to make the invention more concrete, examples of brushes are described in detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is recalled that the invention is not limited to these examples.

The FIG 1 represents in perspective a first embodiment of a broom according to the present disclosure while the FIG 2 represents the same broom 1 according to an exploded view. This broom 1 comprises a handle 10 and a cleaning head 20 articulated to the lower end of the handle 10 by a hinge 21. This cleaning head 20 has a substantially rectangular shape.

The articulation 21, provided at the geometric center of the head 20, that is to say at the intersection of the median lines of its dorsal surface 20a, comprises two perpendicular axes of rotation 21a and 21b: the first axis of 21a rotation is collinear with the direction of greater extension of the head 20 while the second axis of rotation 21b, said tilting axis, is rotatable about the first axis of rotation 21a, the rotation of the handle 10 around this second rotation axis 21b being however prevented by abutment surfaces of the head 20 and the handle 10 when the second axis of rotation 21b is not collinear with the direction of the smallest extension of the head 20. Therefore, the handle 10 is able to be tilted with respect to the head 20 in two orthogonal planes: the foreground, front-back, allows to operate the blade 1 to clean a surface, while the second plane, right-left, to tilt the head 20 towards a folding position in which the head 20 is straightened longitudinally against the handle 10 (see for example the FIG 3 ).

The blade 1 further comprises a dewatering module 30 for wringing the cleaning head 20 of the blade 1.

As shown in the exploded view of the FIG 2 , the head 20 comprises a back shell 22a and a ventral shell 22b between which is disposed at one end of the head 20, a metal block 23 conferring on the cleaning head 20 an unbalance relative to its axis of tilting 21b which tends to drive the head 20 in rotation about this axis of tipping 21b. The head 20 thus comprises, on one side of its tilting axis 21b, a first portion 24a heavier than its second portion 24b disposed on the other side of the tilting axis 21b.

The cleaning head 20 further comprises, at its second lighter portion 24b, a magnet 25 flush at the dorsal surface 20a of the head 20 through an orifice 25a formed in the back shell 22a. As illustrated on the FIG 4D when the cleaning head is in its folded position, the magnet 25 of the head is configured to cooperate with a metal rod 11 provided near the lower end of the handle 10. This metal rod 11 passes diametrically through the handle 10 from one side to a contact surface 12 which protrudes from the surface of the handle 10. An O-ring 13, sealing the handle 10, is further disposed between the surface of the handle 10 and a shoulder that forms the contact surface 12 with the rod 11.

The head 20 is also provided with tabs 28 disposed at the end of its heavy portion 24b, these tongues 28 for fixing, removably, a cleaning wipe.

The FIG 3A illustrates the broom 1 back when the cleaning head is in its folded position. The FIG 3B illustrates as for it the broom 1 in a top view in half-section along the plane A of the FIG 3A . In these figures, it can be seen that the dewatering module 30 comprises a substantially C-shaped frame 31 shaped so as to encircle the ventral surface 20b and the lateral ends of the head 20 while leaving an opening on the dorsal side 20a of the head so as to be able to circulate along the cleaning head 20 without being impeded by the hinge 21 and the contact surface 12.

It is equipped on the one hand with a dewatering roll 32 extending along its outer edge and rotatably mounted between the lateral uprights of the frame 31 and, on the other hand, with two lateral rollers 33 provided at each of its inner ends. The spin roller 32 and the rollers 33 are spaced so as to provide space insertion in which can penetrate the cleaning head 20 for spinning.

The frame 31 is connected at each of its inner ends to a sleeve 34 by means of longitudinal rods 35, this sleeve 34 being engaged around the handle 10 and free to slide axially along the handle. When this sleeve is actuated downwards by the user, the frame 31 is thus driven downwards and flows along the cleaning head 20: on this occasion, the spin roller 32 rolls on the ventral surface 20b of the head 20 while the rollers 33 roll on two treads 26 provided on the dorsal surface 20a of the head 20, on either side of the hinge 21, along the lateral edges of greater length of the head cleaning 20.

The operation of this broom 1 will now be described with reference to FIG 4A to 4F . On the FIG 4A , the cleaning head 20 is in its working position: its ventral surface 20b, equipped with a cleaning wipe 27, is applied against the surface to be cleaned S. In this position, the handle 10 can be freely moved in the plane fore-aft to maneuver the broom 1.

When the user wishes to spin the cleaning head 20, after soaking in a cleaning liquid for example, it can fold the cleaning head 20 to its folded position by raising the blade 1 above the ground S. Indeed, as shown on the FIG 4B when the blade 1 is raised above the ground S, the weight 23 tends to point towards the ground S thus causing the cleaning head 20 to rotate about the tilting axis 21b.

Therefore, if the handle 10 is held substantially vertically, the head 20 will reach a vertical position in which the light portion 24b of the head 20 extends along the handle 10: this is the folding position of the cleaning head 20. In this position, illustrated on the FIG 4C , the magnet 25 adheres to the contact surface 12 of the metal rod 11, thus maintaining the folded position of the cleaning head 20. It is now possible to incline the handle 10 without the cleaning head 20 leaves his fallback position.

Therefore, it is possible to actuate the dewatering module 30 by sliding the sleeve 34 back and forth along the handle 10. As shown in FIGS. FIG 4D and 4E (in section according to the plan BB, respectively CC, of the FIG 3 ), when the spin module 30 is actuated, the frame 31 goes down towards the cleaning head 20, the roll 32 and the rollers 33 then engaging on either side of the cleaning head 20. Roller 32 thus traverses the ventral surface 20b of the cleaning head 20 in order to wring the wipe 27 while the rollers 33 roll on the treads 26 of the dorsal surface 20a of the head 20. These rollers 33 make it possible to on the one hand, to reduce the friction during the actuation of the dewatering module 30 and, on the other hand, to oppose to the spin roller 32 a reaction force allowing effective wringing throughout the head of cleaning 20, including beyond the end of the handle 10.

Finally, as shown on the FIG 4F when the spin is completed, it is possible to take off the magnet 25 from the contact surface 12 and then return the cleaning head 20 to its working position by means of a lever effect made by pressing the end of the heavy part 24a of the head 20 against the ground S when the handle 10 forms a non-zero angle with the vertical direction.

The FIG 5 illustrates a second embodiment of a brush 100 according to the present disclosure: this second example of brush 100 is identical in all respects, both in its structure and in its operating mode, to the first example of a brush except that the unbalance of the cleaning head 120 is not achieved by a flyweight but by a disengagement of the hinge 121 relative to the median line of smaller extension of the cleaning head 20. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. FIG 5 the length La of the first portion 124a of the cleaning head 120 is greater than the length Lb of the second portion 124b of the cleaning head 120. As in the first example, the first portion 124a of the head 120 is therefore heavier than its second portion 124b so that it drives the head 20 in rotation about the tilting axis 121b.

The modes or examples of embodiment described in the present description are given for illustrative and not limiting, a person skilled in the art can easily, in view of this presentation, modify these modes or embodiments, or consider others, while remaining within the scope of the invention.

In addition, the various features of these modes or embodiments can be used alone or be combined with each other. When combined, these features may be as described above or differently, the invention not being limited to the specific combinations described herein. In particular, unless otherwise specified, a characteristic described in connection with a mode or example of embodiment may be applied in a similar manner to another embodiment or embodiment.

Claims (13)

1. A broom with a tilting head for cleaning a surface, comprising a handle (10),
   a cleaning head (20) mounted at the lower end of the handle (10) via an articulation (21), said articulation (21) being configured to allow the head (20) to tilt around a tilting axis (21b) between a transverse working position, in which the head (20) is able to be pressed against a surface to be cleaned (S), and an axial folded position, in which at least part (24b) of the head (20) is placed upright against the handle (10),
   wherein the cleaning head (20) has an unbalancing means configured to return the head (20) toward its folded position when the handle (10) is held substantially vertically away from the surface to be cleaned (S), and
   characterized in that the articulation comprises two perpendicular rotation axes (21a) and (21b), the first rotation axis (21a) being collinear to the largest extension direction of the head (20) while the second rotation axis (21b) defines the tilting axis, and
   in that the head (20) is equipped with a maintaining member (25) configured to cooperate automatically with the handle (10) of the broom (1) when the head (20) is brought into its folded position so as to maintain said folded position against the action of gravity, including when the handle (10) is inclined, the cooperation between the maintaining member (25) and the handle (10) being activated automatically once the folded position is reached to block the cleaning head (20) in its folded position.
2. The broom according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning head (21) comprises a flyweight (23) provided at a distance from the articulation (21), this flyweight (23) being able to form the unbalancing means of the head (20).
3. The broom according to claim 2, characterized in that said flyweight (23) is a metal block enclosed in the cleaning head (20) near one of its ends.
4. The broom according to claim 1, characterized in that the articulation (21) of the cleaning head (20) is off-centered relative to a median line of said head (20), this off-centering being able to form the unbalancing means of the head (20).
5. The broom according to claim 4, characterized in that said maintaining member (25) cooperates with the handle (10) through a magnetic interaction.
6. The broom according to claim 5, characterized in that said maintaining member is a magnet (25) provided on the surface of the dorsal face (20a) of the cleaning head (20) and cooperating with a metal surface (12) of the handle (10).
7. The broom according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the handle (10) comprises a transverse metal rod (11) having a planar end face (12) protruding on the surface of the handle (10).
8. The broom according to claim 4, characterized in that said maintaining member cooperates with the handle using a mechanical device.
9. The broom according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it further comprises a wringing module (30) attached to the handle (10) above the cleaning head (20) and configured to wring the cleaning head (20) when the latter is in its folded position.
10. The broom according to claim 8, characterized in that said wringing module (30) includes a wringing element (32) mounted on a frame (31) connected to an actuator (34), said actuator (34) being configured to slide axially along the handle (10) so as to be able to move the wringing element (32) from front to back along the handle (10) by the action of a user on said sliding actuator (34).
11. The broom according to claim 9, characterized in that said wringing module (30) further includes a reaction element (33) mounted on the frame (31) in opposition to the wringing element (32).
12. The broom according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it further comprises an impregnable lining (27) able to retain a liquid, this lining (27) being removably fixed on the ventral face (20b) of the cleaning head (20).
13. The broom according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the maintaining member (25) is configured to release the cleaning head (20) when the end of the head (20) opposite the maintaining member (25) is pressed transversely against the surface to be cleaned.

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